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Kingsman Wardrobe on a (relative) Budget

After watching the advanced screening of Kingsman, I have been staring longingly at the wardrobe designed by Mr. Porter; nothing from which I can afford. So, here are some cheaper alternatives for those who want the Kingsman wardrobe, without a budget backed by a major spy organization. Here are some alternatives to the items by Mr.Porter.

The Shoes

Keeping with the spirit of the Kingsman, I’m going to try and keep the items either British-made, or British-designed; with that in mind, I’m going with shoes by Charles Tyrwhitt.

$350 is a reasonable price for a pair of British made, calf leather Oxfords; and you would expect them to last at least the average persons life-time; of course, as a spy, there are no guarantees on how long you, or your shoes will last. Unfortunately, there are no blades hidden in the toe.

If $350 is a bit too much, I recommend these, for $199; the leather’s not as good, and they are not made in Britain, still, I own a pair, and I like them.

At some point in every spy’s life, he finds himself at a black-tie affair. Sure, the budget conscious can just shine up their regular Oxfords, but it’s really better to had a dedicated pair of patent leather Oxfords.

Meermin is a spanish brand that I have literally just found, so I can’t vouch for the quality; I’s really hard to find good boots at a reasonable price. Still, they look good, and seem to be made from good quality leather, with rubber soles.Tan boots are incredibly versatile, something that every spy, and indeed, every gentleman, should be.

The Shirts

A white twill shirt is the most basic, and most versatile shirt a gentleman can own; Turnbull & Asser, as stocked by Mr. Porter, makes some of the best shirts in the world, but they run about $300 each. As regular readers will know, Charles Tyrwhitt is my go-to shirt brand. Because some shirts are likely to be damaged in your spy activities, I recommend buying two of each.

The Suits

Black Lapel is an online made-to-measure tailor, that offers well-tailored garments, at a fraction of what they would cost at a tailor. If you don’t know, made-to-measure(MTM) means that the clothing is made to your measurements by altering a standard pattern, this will give you a greater fit than an off-the-rack suit, but it may not be as good as a fully bespoke suit. In the spirit of the Kingsman, I only wanted to recommend double-breasted suits, but they are pretty hard to come by at a reasonable price.

In my (somewhat) humble opinion, nothing says british gentleman better than a double-breasted suit. Unfortunately, they are rather hard to come by; fortunately, Black Lapel offers two double-breasted models, a solid midnight navy, and a navy windowpane; both make a wonderful addition to the wardrobe of the gentleman spy.

There comes a point in every gentleman’s life when he is given the opportunity to attend a black tie event. Now, there’s nothing wrong with the traditional black, peaked lapel jacket, but every gentleman knows how to add a bit of colour and subtle flair to his outfit; a dark blue shawl lapel is the perfect way to do this.

Blazers

Every gentleman knows that there are some situations where a suit wouldn’t be appropriate; that’s where the humble blazer comes in. Pair either of these models with a pair of grey flannel trousers for a stylish, smart casual outfit.

The first pocket square every gentleman should own is the solid white twill. A white pocket square works with every outfit, and is the traditional gentlemen’s choice for black tie attire. A burgundy pocket square is a colourful alternative, and is equally acceptable for black tie. In addition to these two, a gentleman should have a range of coloured and patterned squares, for less formal occasions, and to compliment his many ties.

Invicta is my favorite brand for reasonably priced, good quality watches. They don’t match the quality of Bremont, and they don’t shoot poison darts, but they are all very good-looking pieces, that should be a part of a gentleman’s wardrobe.

They don’t have a camera, or the ability to show holograms, but they do fold up for easy storage. The classic wayfarer is my go-to frame, and depending on the style (round, square), they fit most face shapes.

Every gentleman should carry an umbrella, on the off-chance that it might rain; and while it isn’t bulletproof, or function as a shotgun, it can still be used in self-defence, should the need arise. Just pretend it’s a sword, like I do.